R2017-137 Receiving Grant Funds from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation for Neighborhood Redevelopment

Home Browse Search

11/20/2017 Item Coversheet City Manager DATE: 11/15/2017 MEMO: TO: Honorable Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and Members of the City Council FROM: Tim Gleason,City Manager SUBJECT: Resolution authorizing a donation of$1 million from the Howard G.Buffett Foundation for the neighborhood redevelopment portion of the city's Community Revitalization initiative. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of authorization to enter into an agreement for a donation of $1 million for neighborhood related work as part of the recently initiated Community Revitalization initiative. BACKGROUND: The Howard G.Buffett Foundation has once again graciously agreed to provide a significant investment in the growth and development of our community,agreeing to provide$1 million in funding to support the city's revitalization effort.As you know, we recently kicked off what will be a wide ranging publicly driven Community Revitalization program that will develop an overall revitalization plan that encourages growth,regeneration,and development in a variety of areas.The response to the program has been good;almost 200 people signed up or expressed an interest in participating in the process with 120 residents attending the first of three planning sessions that will develop the plan to be presented in the spring. The contribution,if approved,would be specifically designated for the neighborhood redevelopment portion of the overall program with actual budgeted line items to be considered and approved by the Howard G.Buffett Foundation in the next several months. Mr.Buffett and City Manager Tim Gleason have had a continuing working relationship related to how to best grow and support Decatur and this most recent commitment grew out of ongoing conversations and,more importantly,Mr.Buffett's continued interest in helping the Decatur community.This donation represents the latest of several to be made to the Decatur community and follows a$330,000 contribution from the Foundation to pay the lion's share of the cost for a municipally-owned fiber network to be completed soon. PRIOR COUNCIL ACTION: None INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: Residents,Decatur City Council members,the Howard Buffett Foundation. STAFF REFERENCE: City Manager Tim Gleason at Tgleason@decaturil.gov or 217-424-2801 or Deputy City Manager Billy Tyus at Btyus@decaturil.gov or 217-424-2801. BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: While overall programs and budgets are still being developed,this investment provides a substantial investment in efforts to move this program forward. ATTACHMENTS: Description Type RESOLUTION Resoliiticnr Letter https://decatur.novusagenda.com/AgendaWebtCoverSheet.aspx?ltemlD=1331 1/1